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Men pointed guns at dog walker in Thundersley park

FAMILIES are being warned to be on their guard after twomen armed with rifles threatened a dog-walker in a public park.

A 21-year-old man was walking his dog through Thundersley Glen, off Kiln Road, when two unidentified men carrying weapons turned their guns on him at about 4pm on Saturday.

The terrified man fled the scene and called police. Armed officers and the force helicopter scoured the area, but couldn’t find the pair.

The victim’s sister, a 40-year-old woman from Benfleet who wished to remain anonymous, wants people to be aware when walking through the woods.

She said: “It was such an awful thing to have happened to him.

“My brother was in shock, to be honest, that these men would point a gun at him and laugh as though they would shoot. It is so intimidating.

“As soon as he left the park he rang the police and they sent out a helicopter and a patrol car.

“My brother was mostly worried about other people being at risk because there were families around at the time as well.

“Anyone who walks through there needs to be on their guard because they could come back.”

A police spokeswoman said: “Police were contacted shortly after 4pm on Saturday, following reports two men had been walking along Thundersley Glen in Benfleet a short time earlier, both holding firearms.

“Armed officers carried out a search with the police helicopter assisting overhead. The search was called off at 5pm as there was no trace of the men.”

The younger man was in his early to mid-twenties, about 6ft 1is tall, of medium build, with short brown hair and a goatee beard.

The other man is thought to have been in his early thrities, about 5ft 10ins tall, stocky, with brown hair which was receding slightly.

Both were wearing military boots and it is thought they were hunting wildlife.

Thundersley Glen is managed by Castle Point Council as a public open space.

Park ranger Tony Doveaston said it was not the first time people had illegally taken weapons into the park.

He said: “We are really concerned about this because this is not only detrimental to wildlife, but is an issue of public safety.

“We do not want residents intimidated like that when they come through the park.

“We have had people shoot air rifles before, but to point a rifle at a person and laugh is dangerous because they could have fired at any time. People are not allowed to carry weapons in a public open space.

“We had a problem like this quite a few years ago, when two youngsters were arrested by the police.Wewould urge anyone who sees them to call the police and the council immediately.”

To contact the council, ring 01268 882200 or the out-of-hours number, 01268 758357.

“As soon as he left the park he rang the police and they sent out a helicopter and a patrol car.
___________
why not call straight away rather than wait until he left the park, more chance of finding the hillbillys.

“As soon as he left the park he rang the police and they sent out a helicopter and a patrol car.
___________
why not call straight away rather than wait until he left the park, more chance of finding the hillbillys.DogsMessInLeigh

“As soon as he left the park he rang the police and they sent out a helicopter and a patrol car.
___________
why not call straight away rather than wait until he left the park, more chance of finding the hillbillys.

Score: -8

pembury53
7:59am Thu 13 Feb 14

so basically these are air rifles being made to sound like some sort serious fire arms in this story..... not pleasant to have one pointed at you but hardly 'day of the jackal'

so basically these are air rifles being made to sound like some sort serious fire arms in this story..... not pleasant to have one pointed at you but hardly 'day of the jackal'pembury53

so basically these are air rifles being made to sound like some sort serious fire arms in this story..... not pleasant to have one pointed at you but hardly 'day of the jackal'

Score: -13

You'dfeelbetterforknowingthat
8:04am Thu 13 Feb 14

pembury53 wrote…

so basically these are air rifles being made to sound like some sort serious fire arms in this story..... not pleasant to have one pointed at you but hardly 'day of the jackal'

Never belittle the shock of looking down a rifle barrel, hope they catch them

[quote][p][bold]pembury53[/bold] wrote:
so basically these are air rifles being made to sound like some sort serious fire arms in this story..... not pleasant to have one pointed at you but hardly 'day of the jackal'[/p][/quote]Never belittle the shock of looking down a rifle barrel, hope they catch themYou'dfeelbetterforknowingthat

pembury53 wrote…

so basically these are air rifles being made to sound like some sort serious fire arms in this story..... not pleasant to have one pointed at you but hardly 'day of the jackal'

Never belittle the shock of looking down a rifle barrel, hope they catch them

Score: 23

bazza 1
8:27am Thu 13 Feb 14

GTA Essex wrote…

Probably just fake or just low powered guns.

Yeah, and you are going to know that they are fake, are you, when someone points it at you and tries to intimidate you, aren't you? If it looks like a gun, you have every reason to believe it really is a gun, and dangerous.

[quote][p][bold]GTA Essex[/bold] wrote:
Probably just fake or just low powered guns.[/p][/quote]Yeah, and you are going to know that they are fake, are you, when someone points it at you and tries to intimidate you, aren't you? If it looks like a gun, you have every reason to believe it really is a gun, and dangerous.bazza 1

GTA Essex wrote…

Probably just fake or just low powered guns.

Yeah, and you are going to know that they are fake, are you, when someone points it at you and tries to intimidate you, aren't you? If it looks like a gun, you have every reason to believe it really is a gun, and dangerous.

Score: 22

supermadmax
8:44am Thu 13 Feb 14

I don't believe him. No other witnesses and I suspect others would have spotted if two armed men were hunting or strolling about the park on a Saturday afternoon pointing rifles at people. He made it up, sister over reacted and called the police, he then could not change his story.

I don't believe him. No other witnesses and I suspect others would have spotted if two armed men were hunting or strolling about the park on a Saturday afternoon pointing rifles at people. He made it up, sister over reacted and called the police, he then could not change his story.supermadmax

I don't believe him. No other witnesses and I suspect others would have spotted if two armed men were hunting or strolling about the park on a Saturday afternoon pointing rifles at people. He made it up, sister over reacted and called the police, he then could not change his story.

Score: -29

Kim Gandy
9:19am Thu 13 Feb 14

DogsMessInLeigh wrote…

“As soon as he left the park he rang the police and they sent out a helicopter and a patrol car.
___________
why not call straight away rather than wait until he left the park, more chance of finding the hillbillys.

What, you mean just stand still and make a phone call while somebody has a gun on you, rather than get away and then make the call.

On the first sight of a gun, I wouldn't bother to hang around to see if it's real or whether they intended to shoot me, I'd be out of there like the proverbial off a shiny shovel and on the phone as soon as I was clear of the place.

[quote][p][bold]DogsMessInLeigh[/bold] wrote:
“As soon as he left the park he rang the police and they sent out a helicopter and a patrol car.
___________
why not call straight away rather than wait until he left the park, more chance of finding the hillbillys.[/p][/quote]What, you mean just stand still and make a phone call while somebody has a gun on you, rather than get away and then make the call.
On the first sight of a gun, I wouldn't bother to hang around to see if it's real or whether they intended to shoot me, I'd be out of there like the proverbial off a shiny shovel and on the phone as soon as I was clear of the place.Kim Gandy

DogsMessInLeigh wrote…

“As soon as he left the park he rang the police and they sent out a helicopter and a patrol car.
___________
why not call straight away rather than wait until he left the park, more chance of finding the hillbillys.

What, you mean just stand still and make a phone call while somebody has a gun on you, rather than get away and then make the call.

On the first sight of a gun, I wouldn't bother to hang around to see if it's real or whether they intended to shoot me, I'd be out of there like the proverbial off a shiny shovel and on the phone as soon as I was clear of the place.

Score: 18

InTheKnowOk
9:27am Thu 13 Feb 14

It's not a park .. People that don't know the area would assume it's a place where there are swings and slides etc .. It is infact a glen, a wooded area where people like to take their dogs ...

It's not a park .. People that don't know the area would assume it's a place where there are swings and slides etc .. It is infact a glen, a wooded area where people like to take their dogs ...InTheKnowOk

It's not a park .. People that don't know the area would assume it's a place where there are swings and slides etc .. It is infact a glen, a wooded area where people like to take their dogs ...

Score: 8

GTA Essex
9:55am Thu 13 Feb 14

Kim Gandy wrote…

DogsMessInLeigh wrote…

“As soon as he left the park he rang the police and they sent out a helicopter and a patrol car.
___________
why not call straight away rather than wait until he left the park, more chance of finding the hillbillys.

What, you mean just stand still and make a phone call while somebody has a gun on you, rather than get away and then make the call.

On the first sight of a gun, I wouldn't bother to hang around to see if it's real or whether they intended to shoot me, I'd be out of there like the proverbial off a shiny shovel and on the phone as soon as I was clear of the place.

I don't think I would even phone the police. Couldnt be asked with the hassle of getting involved. Not my problem is it.

[quote][p][bold]Kim Gandy[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]DogsMessInLeigh[/bold] wrote:
“As soon as he left the park he rang the police and they sent out a helicopter and a patrol car.
___________
why not call straight away rather than wait until he left the park, more chance of finding the hillbillys.[/p][/quote]What, you mean just stand still and make a phone call while somebody has a gun on you, rather than get away and then make the call.
On the first sight of a gun, I wouldn't bother to hang around to see if it's real or whether they intended to shoot me, I'd be out of there like the proverbial off a shiny shovel and on the phone as soon as I was clear of the place.[/p][/quote]I don't think I would even phone the police. Couldnt be asked with the hassle of getting involved. Not my problem is it.GTA Essex

Kim Gandy wrote…

DogsMessInLeigh wrote…

“As soon as he left the park he rang the police and they sent out a helicopter and a patrol car.
___________
why not call straight away rather than wait until he left the park, more chance of finding the hillbillys.

What, you mean just stand still and make a phone call while somebody has a gun on you, rather than get away and then make the call.

On the first sight of a gun, I wouldn't bother to hang around to see if it's real or whether they intended to shoot me, I'd be out of there like the proverbial off a shiny shovel and on the phone as soon as I was clear of the place.

I don't think I would even phone the police. Couldnt be asked with the hassle of getting involved. Not my problem is it.

Score: -14

dhd
9:56am Thu 13 Feb 14

I believe him as this sounds remarkably similar to some men that I've seen a few times in Hockley Wood over the last year. and they are quite frightening. Also my husband has seen them and he made a quick getaway as he felt very intimidated and warned other walkers not to go in their direction. And yes I did report to the police the first time but never heard any more.

I believe him as this sounds remarkably similar to some men that I've seen a few times in Hockley Wood over the last year. and they are quite frightening. Also my husband has seen them and he made a quick getaway as he felt very intimidated and warned other walkers not to go in their direction. And yes I did report to the police the first time but never heard any more.dhd

I believe him as this sounds remarkably similar to some men that I've seen a few times in Hockley Wood over the last year. and they are quite frightening. Also my husband has seen them and he made a quick getaway as he felt very intimidated and warned other walkers not to go in their direction. And yes I did report to the police the first time but never heard any more.

Score: 11

ccd
1:39pm Thu 13 Feb 14

InTheKnowOk wrote…

It's not a park .. People that don't know the area would assume it's a place where there are swings and slides etc .. It is infact a glen, a wooded area where people like to take their dogs ...

A park doesn't have to have swings and slides. My dictionary says
"an area of land, usually in a largely natural state, for the enjoyment of the public"

[quote][p][bold]InTheKnowOk[/bold] wrote:
It's not a park .. People that don't know the area would assume it's a place where there are swings and slides etc .. It is infact a glen, a wooded area where people like to take their dogs ...[/p][/quote]A park doesn't have to have swings and slides. My dictionary says
"an area of land, usually in a largely natural state, for the enjoyment of the public"ccd

InTheKnowOk wrote…

It's not a park .. People that don't know the area would assume it's a place where there are swings and slides etc .. It is infact a glen, a wooded area where people like to take their dogs ...

A park doesn't have to have swings and slides. My dictionary says
"an area of land, usually in a largely natural state, for the enjoyment of the public"

Score: 1

MilesBond
4:45pm Thu 13 Feb 14

Probably just air rifles but they could still take your eye out. If they try that with me they'll end up with it wrapped round the back of their head.

Probably just air rifles but they could still take your eye out. If they try that with me they'll end up with it wrapped round the back of their head.MilesBond

Probably just air rifles but they could still take your eye out. If they try that with me they'll end up with it wrapped round the back of their head.

Score: 0

MilesBond
4:46pm Thu 13 Feb 14

Or I'd call Ross Kemp

Or I'd call Ross KempMilesBond

Or I'd call Ross Kemp

Score: 3

Bolloximian
5:51pm Fri 14 Feb 14

MilesBond wrote…

Probably just air rifles but they could still take your eye out. If they try that with me they'll end up with it wrapped round the back of their head.

My name is Bond, Miles Bond.

[quote][p][bold]MilesBond[/bold] wrote:
Probably just air rifles but they could still take your eye out. If they try that with me they'll end up with it wrapped round the back of their head.[/p][/quote]My name is Bond, Miles Bond.Bolloximian

MilesBond wrote…

Probably just air rifles but they could still take your eye out. If they try that with me they'll end up with it wrapped round the back of their head.

My name is Bond, Miles Bond.

Score: -1

Chubbiest Hobo
6:28pm Fri 14 Feb 14

GTA Essex wrote…

Kim Gandy wrote…

DogsMessInLeigh wrote…

“As soon as he left the park he rang the police and they sent out a helicopter and a patrol car.
___________
why not call straight away rather than wait until he left the park, more chance of finding the hillbillys.

What, you mean just stand still and make a phone call while somebody has a gun on you, rather than get away and then make the call.

On the first sight of a gun, I wouldn't bother to hang around to see if it's real or whether they intended to shoot me, I'd be out of there like the proverbial off a shiny shovel and on the phone as soon as I was clear of the place.

I don't think I would even phone the police. Couldnt be asked with the hassle of getting involved. Not my problem is it.

You dick!!! You can't even spell! How would you like
a rifle placed between your gums? Couldn't be asked? You mean arsed? Knob!

[quote][p][bold]GTA Essex[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Kim Gandy[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]DogsMessInLeigh[/bold] wrote:
“As soon as he left the park he rang the police and they sent out a helicopter and a patrol car.
___________
why not call straight away rather than wait until he left the park, more chance of finding the hillbillys.[/p][/quote]What, you mean just stand still and make a phone call while somebody has a gun on you, rather than get away and then make the call.
On the first sight of a gun, I wouldn't bother to hang around to see if it's real or whether they intended to shoot me, I'd be out of there like the proverbial off a shiny shovel and on the phone as soon as I was clear of the place.[/p][/quote]I don't think I would even phone the police. Couldnt be asked with the hassle of getting involved. Not my problem is it.[/p][/quote]You dick!!! You can't even spell! How would you like
a rifle placed between your gums? Couldn't be asked? You mean arsed? Knob!Chubbiest Hobo

GTA Essex wrote…

Kim Gandy wrote…

DogsMessInLeigh wrote…

“As soon as he left the park he rang the police and they sent out a helicopter and a patrol car.
___________
why not call straight away rather than wait until he left the park, more chance of finding the hillbillys.

What, you mean just stand still and make a phone call while somebody has a gun on you, rather than get away and then make the call.

On the first sight of a gun, I wouldn't bother to hang around to see if it's real or whether they intended to shoot me, I'd be out of there like the proverbial off a shiny shovel and on the phone as soon as I was clear of the place.

I don't think I would even phone the police. Couldnt be asked with the hassle of getting involved. Not my problem is it.

You dick!!! You can't even spell! How would you like
a rifle placed between your gums? Couldn't be asked? You mean arsed? Knob!

Score: -2

Chubbiest Hobo
6:32pm Fri 14 Feb 14

GTA Essex wrote…

Probably just fake or just low powered guns.

So if, when you are in an elderly state and some chav points a shooter at you, are you going to question them? Helmet cheese knob!

[quote][p][bold]GTA Essex[/bold] wrote:
Probably just fake or just low powered guns.[/p][/quote]So if, when you are in an elderly state and some chav points a shooter at you, are you going to question them? Helmet cheese knob!Chubbiest Hobo

GTA Essex wrote…

Probably just fake or just low powered guns.

So if, when you are in an elderly state and some chav points a shooter at you, are you going to question them? Helmet cheese knob!

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